On numerous occasions, European clubs are reluctant to release their players summoned by their national teams under the pretext of injuries. Aware of this ruse, the coach of the Algerian team, Vladimir Petkovic no longer pays attention to club press releases, but only to medical reports.
The latest case confirms Petkovic’s doubts about the pretexts of injury put forward by European clubs to prevent their players from joining their teams.
During the press conference he held last Thursday, he included Jaouen Hadjam in the list of 26 players summoned for the Greens training camp in November. This despite the fact that his Swiss club Young Boys de Berne declared him out in a press release for three weeks due to the injury.
Here’s why Petkovic summoned Hadjam, despite the announcement of his injury
Petkovic’s decision to include this player on the list surprised many and even drew criticism. But Hadjam played as a starter this Sunday, November 10 for the match against FC Lugano. The doubts of the national coach therefore turned out to be true.
Moreover, according to a source cited this Monday, November 11 by the Winwin website, Petkovic has even declared war on European clubs who are reluctant to release players under the pretext of injury. And Hadjam’s summons, despite the announcement of his injury, confirms this.
« We preferred to include Jaouen in the list, pending more precise confirmations on his injury “, Petkovic said during last Thursday’s conference. “ Our medical staff is in contact with his club’s doctors, it is difficult to know the exact condition of his injury “, he added.
Petkovic was visibly unsure of his condition, which led him to take the Swiss club’s press release with a pinch of salt. Moreover, this is what he now does with all the press releases from European clubs announcing injuries to players on the National Team.
“Petkovic does not pay attention to club press releases, but rather to medical reports”
A source close to the FAF confirmed this Monday, November 11 to TSA this state of mind of the national coach. From the outset, the source explains that this observation is not completely false and this concerns all selections, not just Algeria.
« The coach (Petkovic, Editor’s note), with extensive experience as a coach, notably with Switzerland, does things professionally. », added our interlocutor.
When a player is announced injured, Petkovic seeks to obtain all the information on his injury, including medical reports, to decide on his call-up. The national coach does not pay attention to club press releases, but rather to medical reports.
This is also what happened in the case of Hadjam. In the absence of the medical report, Petkovic summoned him. “ And the fact that the player started yesterday, the coach was right to retain him », Adds our source. This was also the case for Hichem Boudaoui last September.
